"See You Next Week...'Lord Willing'..."

Why would someone say, “Lord willing” before or after telling their vacation plans, or meeting up with friends, or in reference to the next worship service? Are these things God’s will? Are they opposed to God’s will? Do we need to ask God’s permission before doing anything?

So, why would a person say, “Lord willing,” and when does it make sense?

Did you know that this practice is rooted in scripture?

Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that.”

— James 4:15

Does this passage teach that we must always attach the phrase, “If the Lord wills” to our future plans? Or does it mean that we need to acknowledge that we can really do nothing unless God ‘wills’ it? What does it teach?

First, remember how Jesus rebuked the hypocritical Pharisees for empty, external forms of religion? From that we learn that God desires a response from the heart. So, there is no benefit in saying words, “If the Lord wills” unless we do so with understanding and sincerity of heart.

Next, let’s consider the broader context of the verse quoted above.

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that." But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 

 — James 4:13-16

Is James teaching that telling one’s plans is boasting?

The key to understanding this passage is found in the preceding verse. In verse 12 James states that no one really knows what tomorrow will bring. More specifically, no one really knows whether they will live tomorrow. To make future plans without acknowledging this uncertainty is arrogant. A failure to acknowledge the uncertainty of life is a failure to acknowledge our Creator who gives us breath. James correctly calls such arrogance evil.

Telling one’s plans is not boastful. After all, God allows us to make choices in all areas of life. It is not boastful to choose to move to another city, engage in business, choose a career, choose a college, choose a mate, etc. However, we must realize that life itself is essential for carrying out one’s plans; and God is in control of life. He is the one who gives breath.

These verses are not about our future plans as much as they are about our acknowledgement of the One who gives life. So, the phrase “Lord willing” is really incomplete by itself. Stated fully and more accurately: “If the Lord wills, we shall live.” Then, if we have been given life by our Creator, it is our plan to do this or do that.

I don’t think God was making an arbitrary rule that we need to regurgitate a specific phrase. Yet, sincerely acknowledging God as Creator and Giver of life will keep us from the evil of boasting about things that are out of our control. At the same time, we will be reminding ourselves of our daily dependence on God.

Our lives are in His hands.

Mark Stinnett

March 31, 2024

What Are Your Plans?

She shook my hand, and, almost stammering, finally said, “I really wanted to complement you on today’s sermon...I just don’t want you to get a big head.” She grew up learning the danger of pride. She was being careful to guard against putting a stumbling block in front of me by tempting me with pride.

I jokingly assured her that I would not take what she said seriously. (We laughed.)

I accept heartfelt compliments and take them seriously because I have walked in those shoes. What I mean is that I have listened to teachers and preachers who have opened God’s word to my mind in such a meaningful and exciting way that I have expressed my thanks with personal compliments.

Even so, that particular Sunday has stuck with me. The problem of pride is very real, and my older friend understood. She also understood how much more problematic pride is for youth. Lacking the breadth of knowledge and wisdom gained only with passing time, young people, especially those in their teens and twenties , but even in their thirties, can easily fall into pride.

I sometimes cringe when I hear graduating seniors speak of their immediate and future plans. They tell of all the things they will be and do. Some talk about post-graduation education, others, employment. Some talk about why they will engage in their next endeavor, a stepping stone to something greater, job security, a sizeable income, great service to others, etc.

I suppose it is not surprising that I have never heard a young person say that he/she aspires to be righteous or to be godly. The reason? That doesn’t seem to be a lofty goal in life.

Loftiness. That’s the real problem. Whenever a person lifts himself up he is in trouble. Several related words appear in the book of Proverbs: pride, arrogance, haughtiness, boasting. Each has something to do with elevating oneself. Listen to Solomon’s wisdom:

Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

—Proverbs 16:18 (ESV)

One’s pride will bring him low,

But he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. 

 —Proverbs 29:23 (ESV)

Haughty eyes and a proud heart,

The lamp of the wicked, are sin.

—Proverbs 21:4 (ESV)

Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of your body” (Luke 11:34). That seems to be what Solomon meant, only he was specifically focused on haughty eyes. So, he called them “the lamp of the wicked.” Notice that pride and haughtiness are not merely things that are not recommended or unwise, they are sin.

Do you want to talk about your plans? Great!

Do not boast about tomorrow,

For you do not know what a day may bring. 

 —Proverbs 27:1

Talk about your plans. Just remember, you do not know if you will wake up tomorrow. Humbly tell people, “This is what I am planning to do.” Do not boast in the uncertainty of tomorrow.

One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, 

but a fool is reckless and careless. 

 —Proverbs 14:16

Turn away from boastful words. It is a fool who is reckless and careless in what he says. Do not sin by prideful boasting.

Mark Stinnett

June 4, 2023

How Is Your 'God-Wise Planning' Going?

My unconventional title is expressive of a Hebrew term used by Solomon in Proverbs 2. 

The wise king pleaded with his son:

Receive my sayings;
Treasure my commandments;
Make your ear attentive to wisdom;
Incline your heart to understanding;
Cry for discernment;
Lift your voice for understanding
Seek her (wisdom) as silver;
Search for her as for a hidden treasure.

And the expectation (v. 10):

For wisdom will enter your heart, 

And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

With wisdom in one’s heart, Solomon then boldly assured: 

Discretion will guard you, 

Understanding will watch over you. 

—Proverbs 2:11 (NASB95)

Discretion is given the human attribute of guarding. So, how does discretion guard you? Before asking that, What exactly is ‘discretion’?

When ’discretion’ was first used in the English language it carried the sense of making a separation or distinction. That meaning is a good fit for the word it translates from the Hebrew text.

The Hebrew term is one of a family of words that deal with planning, plotting or devising. These words are used in both a positive and negative sense. The word ‘discretion’ capitalizes on one aspect of planning, that of making distinctions between things.

When a person plots a course or devises a plan he must distinguish between choices and make decisions to insure a successful plan. Of course, there is more to planning than simply ‘distinguishing’ between things.

Instead of the word discretion The New Living Translation (1996) has a fitting translation: Wise planning. 

Of course, Solomon's ‘wise planning’ is not defined by man’s wisdom, but God’s wisdom. (Perhaps you now better understand the title.)

The man Job is a beautiful example of this proverb. Job asserts: 

I have made a covenant with my eyes;

How then could I gaze at a virgin?

—Job 31:1 (NASB95)

Job did a little ‘God-wise planning.’ Observe:

• First, Job valued his relationship with God.
• Second, he recognized right and wrong according to God. It was wrong for him to lust for another woman.
• Third, Job knew his human weakness and recognized the need to make a plan before being tempted.
• Fourth, he acted. He ‘made a covenant with his eyes.’ That means that he made a binding agreement with his eyes, and it was evidently to look away before temptation entered his mind.

So, Job made a careful plan based on God's word to deal with temptation. It was God-wise planning.

Solomon said that ‘God-wise planning’ will guard you. And how does that work?

Consider your weaknesses. When you are not being tempted listen to God’s instruction and consciously make a plan on how to follow it. Then, in the moment of temptation, follow the plan. Your ’God-wise planning’ will guard you from evil; from empty ‘benefits’ and from painful consequences; results which you already recognize.

Be wise. Think. Put a plan together...today.

Mark Stinnett

September 6, 2020

What Is God's Will For Me?

“I don’t know if I should marry <name>; what if he’s not the right one?”
“We don’t know whether we should buy a house or rent.”
“We don’t know which house we should choose.”
“We don’t know if it is the right time to have a child.”
“I don’t know if I should choose job #1, job #2, or just stay where I am.”
“I just don’t know...”

“I wish I knew what God’s will was for me.”

---------------

We sometimes ask questions that cannot be answered with certainty. Let me explain.

Suppose your preacher introduced his Sunday morning sermon topic as ‘The Will of God.’ Do you think he will be discussing your marriage? Your house? The timing of having children? Your job? (I think not.)

Sometimes we twist the meaning of the ‘will of God’ into ‘what God wants for me.’ The latter idea is closely akin to ‘what I hope God wants for me, because I know what I want.’

If you have learned from the Proverbs (the focus of many previous blogs), you already have your answer to the myriad of questions concerning life’s decisions: 

• Be wise. 
• Seek wise counsel and listen, even when it is different from what you want to hear.
• Pursue righteousness in all things.
• Pursue justice and fairness for others.
• Honor God; revere God.

We sometimes set ourselves up for doubt. We believe that we want God’s assistance when we already have our hearts set on our desires. Then when difficulties arise after having made a decision, we doubt God’s help.

Reality check: There will be difficulties regardless of the decisions you make, even if God were to send you a message by way of an angel telling you what to decide. If you think that God’s assistance is the assurance of easy living, you haven’t been reading your Bible.

Now...STOP thinking about yourself!

   Commit your works to the LORD, 
   And your plans will be established.
   --Proverbs 16:3

This proverb does not mean, that you should make ‘your’ plan and then dedicate it to God. That is still ‘your’ plan.

The Hebrew word translated ‘commit’ literally means to ‘roll.’ When used in this context it gives the image of ‘rolling’ something (your works) into the presence of the Lord. It conveys the idea of surrendering your works to him. So, ultimately by surrendering your works to God, you are adopting as 'your will' that which you already know to be God's will. In other words, God's will becomes your will, instead of the other way around.

God’s will, his desire for mankind (and you specifically), is revealed in scripture. Simply stated, God desires the salvation of your soul. He wants you to be fully devoted to him so that you can obtain eternal life and fellowship with Him.

Set in that context you should see with clarity whether you should marry <name>.
Set in that context, you should see with clarity the real importance of houses and jobs and the timing of having children.

Make His will the center of your desire. 
Then your plans will revolve around the will of God. 
Then they will be set (established), as if etched in stone.

What Do You Have Planned for Tomorrow...?

One spring my wife and I decided to take the day (a Monday) and head to the Botanical Gardens. There was always something new in bloom. We planned to head out as soon as the kids were off to school, spend the morning at the gardens, and then have lunch together. We made our plan on Saturday.

We spent Sunday night in the ER with one of our daughters due to abdominal pain. Everything turned out OK, but we didn’t get to bed until 2:00 a.m. (Ugh. Adjust plans for Monday.)

We all have our own stories, some humorous, some serious, some sad. Unexpected circumstances and changed plans, sometimes turning our world upside down.

     Do not boast about tomorrow, 
     For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
                                                                   --Proverbs 27:1


We know that one by heart, right?
We have experienced it a hundred times, right?

We really do not need a proverb in the Bible for this one! Right?

----------------------

It is not a proverb that discourages planning. Rather, it discourages boasting...and something else.

A person who ‘boasts’ about tomorrow, is placing his confidence in a future outcome. That future outcome is based on his/her thinking and planning. That thinking and planning is confidence in oneself.

Do we understand that!?
When a person boasts about tomorrow, he is really boasting about himself.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” ¹⁴Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. ¹⁵Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” ¹⁶But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. ¹⁷Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
                                                                                                    --James 4:13-17


There are many days with unforeseen circumstances that will affect the ‘tomorrows’ of life. Yet, for each one of us there will one day that will have an eternal tomorrow.
Plan wisely for that day.